Originally posted by rustynail925 Canon got some cheap primes lower than $500. I dunno when can pentax made some of those..
The problem is really one of volume. Most of the lenses sold these days are consumer zooms like the kit lens, the 50-200, and the DA 55-300. Because Pentax sells more of these, they can keep their prices down on them.
Even priced low, I don't think that Pentax sells that many new primes. The FA 50 is priced similarly to equivalent Canon/Sony/Nikon 50 f1.4 lenses, the difference is that there isn't a tier below like a 50mm f2 or a 35 f2 and I don't see there being one any time soon.
The grass isn't necessarily greener. The DA* zooms are quite competitive in their pricing if you are willing to chance SDM failure. B and H is selling the 50-135 for 820 dollars and the 16-50 for 770 dollars. In comparison, Canon's 70-200 f2.8 IS is 1800 dollars, their 17-55 f2.8 is 1030 (IS not available). Nikon is selling their 70-200 VRII for 2319 dollars and their 17-55 for 1369.
Frankly, I have been shocked how all of the camera companies have been raising prices over the last two years. Two years ago, Canon's 70-200 f2.8 IS was selling for around 1000 dollars. That is an 80 percent increase in lens prices since then.